TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR CONSULTANCY: Perception survey under the “Technical Assistance to Koboko Municipality to implement Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF): Inclusive Urban Development and Mobility in Koboko, Uganda”

Issued on 3rd March 2020

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INTRODUCTION

Associazione Centro Aiuti Volontari (ACAV) is an international non-profit organisation whose mission is to promote international solidarity for equitable and compatible development in the world so to reach balance between poor and rich social realities. Its cooperation projects for development are based on the values of sustainability, transparency, respect, accountability and reciprocity. ACAV operates according to the principles of equality, non-discrimination and impartiality by adopting the same approach towards all individuals and institutions with whom it interacts. 

ACAV operates in close cooperation with local governments and development partners to support high impact, sustainable and replicable development initiatives that transform lives and communities in the hardest to reach rural areas of the developing countries. By adopting a holistic approach which links development and humanitarian response, ACAV intervenes in different sectors, including livelihood and agriculture, water and sanitation, vocational and skills development, environmental protection and conservation, and cross-border cooperation.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

ACAV has been awarded a three-year grant by the European Union (EU Trust Fund for Africa) to finance the implementation of the action titled “Technical Assistance to Koboko Municipality to implement Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF): Inclusive Urban Development and Mobility in Koboko, Uganda”. This action is conceived to help Koboko Municipality in addressing the dual challenge of the growing number of displaced persons that have settled within the Municipality and wider urbanisation. It is envisioned that, by supporting the Municipality to strengthen its urban planning and service provision as well as by creating spaces of communal dialogue, living conditions and opportunities for refugees and their host communities will improve and the risk of conflict between these groups will decrease. 

Accordingly, ACAV in collaboration with Koboko Municipality intends to undertake a perception survey to establish benchmark data related to the specific objectives and results of their interventions. The consultant is expected to investigate the attitude, knowledge, practice and behaviour of urban population in Koboko in regards to urban planning and service provision at municipal level. Hence, the survey will measure the current capacity of Koboko Municipality to provide participatory and inclusive urban planning as well as integrated and non-discriminatory service delivery. 

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY 

The overall objective of the consultancy is to generate up-to-date data and information on how access to and decision-making about urban planning and service delivery are perceived amongst the urban population of Koboko Municipality. It is also intended to generate facts on the level of awareness among the urban population on what Koboko Municipality is doing in terms of urban planning and service delivery. On the basis of the findings of the perception survey, indicators will be drawn to measure the achievements of the pilot action. This will contribute to the development and implementation of a more targeted, integrated and evidence-based response by ACAV and Koboko Municipality, with the aim of improving the latter performance in terms of urban planning and service delivery.

The knowledge and information collected through the survey will be also used to refine the Communication and Visibility Plan and strategies of Koboko Municipality, setting indicators to measure their effectiveness.  

More into details, the consultancy shall be oriented towards the following:

  1. Determining the perception of urban population regarding the quality of service delivery in Koboko Municipality, assessing the extent to which this perception is changing on the basis of belonging to certain groups (e.g. refugee or host community member, male or female, age group, disabled or non-disabled, etc.). 
  2. Identifying sectors where Koboko Municipality should improve its capacities in terms of service delivery.
  3. Identifying and evaluating access to and effectiveness of complaint handling mechanisms for users of municipal services across different sectors in Koboko Municipality. 
  4. Determining the level of inclusion and participation of urban population in Koboko Municipality’s decision-making about urban planning, assessing how inclusion and participation differ among the different population groups (e.g. refugee or host community member, male or female, age group, disabled or non-disabled, etc.).
  5. Identifying existing mechanism of participation and inclusion of urban population in urban planning by Koboko Municipality, investigating eventual barriers to their full access and/or challenges to their effective functioning. 
  6. Establishing credible data that will inform the Communication and Visibility strategies of Koboko Municipality and serve as baselines for measuring their achievement.
  7. Designing an Information, Education and Communication management database system that will assist Koboko Municipality to develop appropriate and timely messaging and advocacy campaigns for its pilot action.
  8. Providing recommendations for making urban planning and service delivery in Koboko Municipality more inclusive and participatory.

 SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY 

The Perception survey will be carried out in Koboko Municipality. 

The Perception survey will be carried out in Koboko Municipality. 

Specific responsibilities of the consultant(s) shall include, but not be limited to the following:

  • Review existing relevant literature (e.g. perception surveys, needs assessments, reports, etc.) with the aim of integrating lessons learnt and good practices in the EUTF Koboko Action.
  • Provide a comprehensive, methodologically sound and impartial assessment of the perception and attitude towards urban planning and service delivery in Koboko Municipality, by establishing baseline data for monitoring, evaluation and setting of indicators. 
  • Determine how the attitude, knowledge, practice and behaviour of urban population towards urban planning and service provision in Koboko Municipality change across the different population groups (e.g. refugee or host community member, male or female, age group, disabled or non-disabled, etc.).
  • Investigate the specific perception and attitude of vulnerable groups towards urban planning and service delivery in Koboko Municipality by different sectors.
  • Compare the existing capacities of Koboko Municipality in terms of urban planning and service delivery to the perception and knowledge of them among urban population. 
  • Investigate the access and level of functionality of existing complaint handling mechanisms in municipal service delivery across different sectors.
  • Investigate the existence and functionality of participatory mechanisms in municipal urban planning.
  • Identify main areas where urban planning and service delivery by Koboko Municipality needs to improve.

METHODOLOGY

While it is the responsibility of the consultant(s) to develop and implement the most suitable and appropriate research methodology, some recommendations are here listed: 

  • Desk review of important documents such as Koboko Municipal development plan, planning documents, previous perception surveys done, etc.  
  • Discussions with project staff, specialists and senior management of ACAV and Koboko Municipality for relevant contextual information and project documents of action.
  • With regards to primary data collection, a mixed approach is strongly recommended. Where applicable, a questionnaire shall be administered to an heterogenous but representative population sampled across the various divisions, wards and cells.  
  • Key informant interviews (e.g. community leaders, refugee leaders, government officials, CSOs/CBOs representatives, etc.) and focus group discussions shall be conducted to provide in-depth understanding about access to and functionality of complaint handling mechanisms for municipal service delivery and participatory mechanisms for municipal urban planning. 
  • In order to understand how perception and attitude change across the different population groups, respondents shall be profiled on the basis of origins (i.e. refugee or host community member), sex, age, disability, socio-economic status, etc. 
  • The definition of the sample size shall refer to secondary data such as the 2014 Uganda Housing and Population Census or current projections. Registered refugees, self-settled and host population sampling should be based on humanitarian documents and datasets such as UNHCR fact sheets, OPM data on refugees or any other latest area assessment.
  • The particular perception and attitude of vulnerable groups shall be investigated to understand the extent to which their specific needs are taken into consideration in municipal service delivery and urban planning. 
  • To ensure harmonised and real time data collection and cleaning, the consultant(s) is expected to use an appropriate open data platform/software (e.g. KOBO). 

KEY DELIVERABLES

On the basis of this ToR, the consultant(s) is expected to deliver the following:

  • Two reports:

– An inception report which needs to include a clear implementation plan for the assignment as well as details about the research methodology and tools for data collection;

– A final report which needs to include at least:

Executive summary;

Background information;

Brief project description and context;

Objectives of the study;

Research methodology; 

Main findings;

Recommendations;

Conclusions.

  • The datasheet or data set which has been used for the analysis. 
  • Graphics, tables and other visual representation of the main findings. 
  • Videos and photographs (as deemed appropriate and necessary).

TIMEFRAME

The assignment is expected to be carried out within a maximum of 15 days.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

  • The consultant(s) will report directly to the Project Manager, ACAV EUTF Koboko. 
  • The consultant(s) shall be responsible for delivering all reports to ACAV. 
  • The consultant(s) will be contracted by ACAV and will cooperate closely with respective departments of Koboko Municipality and other relevant stakeholders.
  • ACAV together with Koboko Municipal Council will provide the relevant background documents necessary for the assignment.

PROFILE AND REQUIREMENTS

The following qualifications and professional experience are required:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field such as Humanitarian Action, Development Studies, Public Policy, Statistics, Mass Communication, Information Technology, Psychology or equivalent. Master’s Degree in any of these fields is an added value.  
  • Minimum of three (3) years of hands-on professional experience in conducting perception surveys, applied research, monitoring and evaluation of service delivery, with recognised national and international organisations/institutions especially in similar thematic areas.
  • Demonstrated experience in designing and conducting qualitative and quantitative research using various participatory approaches and methodologies.
  • Relevant knowledge and experience in urban planning and service delivery. 

The following professional skills and competences are required: 

  • Strong computer literacy with a demonstrated experience in handling online data collection and analysis software/applications (e.g. Kobo, ODM) for purposes of building a reliable database.
  • Strong understanding of context of intervention (i.e. Koboko, West Nile, Uganda). 
  • Strong understanding of logical and results frameworks. 
  • Excellent oral and written English skills.
  • Excellent communication skills, written and oral as well as presentation.
  • Proven capacity to facilitate participation in meetings and workshops.

The following personal requirements are sought:

  • Ability to work under pressure and quickly respond to changing needs.
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision.
  • Result-oriented with a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.
  • Team player with experience in leading focus groups and qualitative interviews.
  • Ability to multi-task and work beyond the normal call of duty to meet set targets.
  • Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills in interacting with high-level stakeholders in government and development partners.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested and qualified consultants or consultancy firms should submit their proposals with the following documentation: 

  • Expression of interest cover letter
  • Consultancy firms are required to submit company profile including name, registration number, address and contact details 
  • Technical proposal including the methodology (methods and instruments) you will use to fulfil the assignment.
  • Budget for the assignment, including logistics. 
  • CVs of the consultant(s) and the proposed team members who will undertake the assignment.
  • An implementation plan of the assignment and confirm that your team members will be available during the time of the assignment.
  • Samples of prior similar assignments or related consultancies is desirable.
  • Any other information deemed relevant

All the above documents should be submitted not later than 10th March 2020 by 5:00 pm.

  • Via e-mail at: acavkoboko@gmail.com  
  • Via courier or hand-delivered in a sealed envelope addressed to:

Project Director

ACAV – EUTF Koboko Office

Plot 94, Moyo Road, Koboko Municipal Council

P.O. Box 126, Koboko – Uganda 

NB: Due to the urgency, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. In case of need for more information, contact us via the e-mail address provided. 

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